Window-operating device



Dec. 23, 1924. 1,520,300

H. W. MEAD E WINDOW OPE RATING DEVICE Filed July 24 1922 3 Sheets-Sheetl INVENTOR I MMea/de WITNESS:

w. MEADE WINDOW OPERATING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 24, 1922INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Dec. 23, 1924. l,52,3

H. W. MEADE WINDOW OPERATING DEVICE Filed July 24 1922 3 SheetsSheet 5WITNESS: ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 23, 1924.

UNITED STATES A mason PATENT ounce.

HAROLD W. MEAIDE, OF YEDDO, INDIANA.

WINDOW-OPERATING DEVICE.

Application filed July 24, 1922. Serial No. 577,168.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, HAROLD W. MEADE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Yeddo, in the county of Fountain and State of Indiana, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in IVindow-Operating Devices, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to window operating devices and has for itsobject the provision of an electrically operated mecha nism designed forassociation with the windows of buildings, railroad coaches, street carsand the like, whereby a person may simply by pressing a push buttoncause the window to be opened or closed at will and without the exerciseof any manual eflort whatever.

An important object is the provision of a device of this character whichis electric motor driven and which embodies electromagnetically actuatedclutch means for se lecting the direction of movement of the mechanismso that the window will be either positively driven to open or closedposition.

A further object is the provision of a mechanism of this character.which is provided with automatic circuit breaking means which will comeinto play when the window reaches its maximum open or closed positionfor breaking the circuit and rendering the mechanism inoperative untilthe other button is pressed to reverse the movement.

An additional object is the provision of a device of this characterwhich will be comparatively simple in construction and installation,highly efficient and positive in operation, durable in service and ageneral improvement in the art.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view the inventionconsists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fullydescribed and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings inwhich Figure 5 is an enlarged plan view of the clutch control mechanism,

Figure 6 is a detail cross section,

Figures 7 and 8 are detail views of the electromagnet structure,

Figure 9 is a detail view of the switch.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the letter A designates awall which might be the side of a building or the side of a railroadcoach, street car or the like, B designates the window opening and Crepresents the window sash which is mounted for vertical slidingmovement in the ordinary manner. In case'the device is installed inconnection with the windows of railroad coaches and the like it isobvious that there would be a series of windows each of which would beprovided with my operating mechanism to be described though for purposesof illustration I have shown one window only as that is entirelysufficient to give a clear understanding of the construe-- tion andoperation.

In carrying out my invention I provide a casing 20 which is let into thewall A ata point somewhat below the window opening. This casing is hereshown as being rectangular in shape and has one end 21 and also its top22 capable of removal to permit access to the interior for the purposeof adjusting or repairing the mechanism therein to be described. Thiscasing is provided with attaching lugs 23 by means of Which it may besecurely anchored in place. Extending downwardly from the bottom of thiscasing are tubular housings 24 while located on the cover 22 directly inline with these housings are guides 25. Secured upon the edges of thesliding sash and recessed thereinto are rods 26 which are slidablethrough the guides 25 and which are adapted to be received within thehousings 24 when the window is in lowered or open position. These rodsmay operate within telescopic guide tubes 27 and 28 which slide onewithin the other and which are connected respectively with the top ofthe casing and the bottom of the window frame for the purpose ofenclosing the rods and protecting them against injury. Ihe lower ends ofthese rods 26 are threaded, one having a right hand and the other a lefthand thread.

J ournaled longitudinally of the casing 20 is the main drive shaft 29which is driven from an electric motor 30 of any conventional orpreferred type. Rotatable upon this shaft at substantially the center ofthe casing are clutch elements 31 and 32, the former of which carries aspur gear 33 and the latter of which carries a sprocket 34. Theremainder-of the clutch mechanism will be described hereinafter.

Rising from the bottom of the casing 20 are standards 35 and 36 formedwith bearings for a counter shaft 37 which carries a spur gear 38meshing with the gear 33 and which also carries a sprocket 39 aboutwhich is trained a chain 40 which is in turn trained about the sprocket34. Secured upon the ends of the counter shaft 37 are beveled gears 42whch mesh with beveled gears 43 carried by sleeves 44 journaled withinthe guides 25 on the cover 22 and within bearings 45 on the bottom ofthe casing. These sleeves are internally threaded, one with a 20 righthand and the other with a left hand thread and have screwing engagementwith the threaded lower ends of the rods 26 so that when the countershaft 37 is rotated in one direct on or the other the intermeshingbeveled gears rotating the sleeves 44 will cause these sleeves to act asnuts to effect longitudinal movement of the rods 26 and consequently thewindow.

The clutch shifting mechanism comprises a rod 46 which is slidablethrough bearing brackets 41 and which has one end carrying an adjustablymounted fork 47 fitting within a groove in a double ended clutch member48 splined upon the shaft 29 between the pinion 33 and sprocket 34thereon. This rod 46 carries two equalizing springs 49 and 50 as shownin the detail view and the free end of the rod carries an electromagnet51 having its cores projecting beyond both ends of its frame as shown.Mounted upon the end plate 21 is a horse shoe magnet 52 with which theelectromagnet 51 co-operates and this horse shoe magnet may be of thepermanent or electromagnetic type whichever may be preferred orbe foundmore advantageous.

The control mechanism includes a pair of push buttons 53 and 54 mountedupon the window casing and connected with a source of current 55 whichmight be of any type but wh ch, in case the device is used on a railroadcoach, would undoubtedly be a dy- This source of current is connectedwith the motor 30 and electromagnet 51 as shown in the diagram so thatwhen either push button is pressed the circuit will be closed throughthe motor and also through the electromagnet 51, it being however to benoted that when one push button is pressed the current will flow throughthe electromagnet 51 in a direct on opposite to the flow when the otherpush button is pressed.

I prefer to provide a circuit breaking device which will operateautomatically by the sash when the latter is moved to its entirely openorentirely closed position. This cirnected in the circuit as shown inthe diagram. Disposed in the path of movement of the window are plungers6O engaged by the window at the ends of the movement thereof andoperating to force the resilient v strip 59 away from the support 56 andconsequently move the contacts 58 away from the contacts 57 forautomatically breaking the circuit.

In the operation, assuming-that the window is closed, to effect openingthereof the operator presses upon the push button 54 whereupon thecircuit will be closed from the source of current through the motor 30and electromagnet 51. The wiring is so arranged that the polarity of theelectromagnet 51 when energized in this instance will be opposed to thepolarity of the permanent magnet 52 and th s will cause repulsion whichwill result in longitudinal shifting of the rod 46 and fork 47. Thismovement. will cause the clutch member 48 to engage the clutch member 31and lock the pinion 33 onto the shaft 29. As the shaft 29 is rotated bythe motor 30 and as the pinion 33 meshes with the pinion 38, the countershaft 37 will be driven and the beveled gears 42 will opcrate to rotatethe sleeves 44 and these sleeves being formed as nuts and being threadedupon the rods 26 will cause these rods to be drawn downwardly into thehousing 24, carrying the window sash downwardly with them. Thetelescopic guide tubes 27 and 28 will slide one within the other as thismovement occurs, so as not to interfere with the action. Upon reach ngits lowermost position the window sash will engage one 01" the plungers60 and break the circuit by moving the contact 58 away from the contact57 so that the motor will cease to operate, as otherwise damage m ght bedone if the operator did not. remove his finger from the push button atthe proper time.

Assuming that the window has been thus opened, when it is desired toclose it. the operator presses the button 53. whereupon the motor willagainbe energized as will be also the electromagnet 51, but in this invstance the polarity of the magnet 51 is reversed so that there will bean attraction between its core and the magnet 52 which will result inmoving the rod 46 lengthwise but in a direction opposite to that of themovement first described. The fork 47 will then operate to slide thedouble ended clutch member 48 into engagement with the clutch element 32and this will lock the sprocket 34 onto the shaft 29. As the shaft 29 isrotated bv the motor 30 the chain 40 trained about the sprocket 34 will.drive the sprocket 39 and consequently the counter shaft 3" 111 ltvt adirection opposite that of the first described action so that the gears42 meshing with the gears 43 will turn the nut members 44 in the reversedirection. This movement of these nut members or sleeves 44 will causelongitudinal movement of the rods 26 upwardly, carrying the window sashwith.

them. Upon reaching its entire closed position the window will engagethe other plunger 60 and break the circuit between the contacts 57 and58.

From the foregoing description and a study, of the drawings it will beapparent that I have thus provided a simply constructed and easilyinstalled mechanically operated and electrically controlled mechanismfor opening and closing windows either locally or from a distant oint,if preferred, depending upon the nature of the building where thewindows are located and depending upon various other conditions andcircumstances. It is to be noted that the various parts are adjustablymounted so as to take care of variations and conditions which may arisefrom time to time either during installation or after installation. Theprovision of the automatic circuit breaker 15 an importantfeature as itprevents too long operation of. the mechanism which would result indamage to some or all of the parts. The device is efficient in every wayand will consequently work as an improvement as making manual effortunnecessary.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the inention it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to makesuch changes in the form,

construction and arrangement of parts as will'not depart from the spiritof the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. Means for operating a slidably mounted window comprising a casing,threaded rods secured to the window and slidable transversely of thecasing. a drive shaft journaled longitudinally of the casing, anelectric motor for rotating said shaft, and normally inactive, nutmembers within the casing threaded on the said rods and carrying beveledgears, a counter shaft carrying beveled gears meshing with said firstnamed gears, 21 pair of drive connections between the drive shaft andthe counter shaft and selectively operable to rotate said counter shaftin either direction, clutch means for throwing either -drive connectioninto operation, a longitudinally movable rod forming part of said clutchmeans, electromag'' netic means for moving said last named rodlengthwlse 1n either direction, and a pair of control switches connectedin circuit with a source of current, said motor and said electromagneticmeans, and a pair of automatic circuit breakers included 1n the circuitand located in the path of movement of the window for breaking thecircuit when the window reaches either limit of its move-- ment.

2. In means for operating a slidably mounted window, a stationarilymounted casing, threaded rods rigidly secured at opposite sides of thewindow and extending through said casing, nut members rotatablymounted'and threaded upon said rods and constrained against longitudinalmovement,

a drive shaft within the casing, a driven -of, a drive shaft, anelectric motor for rotating said shaft and normally inactive nut membersthreaded on said rods and carrying bevel gears. a countershaft carryingbevel gears meshing with said first named bevel gears. a pair of driveconnections between the drive shaft and the countershaft and selectivelyoperable to rotate said counter-shaft in either direction. alongitudinally movable rod operating clutch means for throwing eitherdrive connection into Operation, electromagnetic means for moving saidlast named rod lengthwise in either direction, and a pair of controlswitches connected in circuit with a source of current, said motor andsaid'electromagnetic means.

4. Means for operating a slidably mounted window. comprising threadedrods secured to and depending from the window, a drive shaft, anelectric motor for rotating said shaft, nut members threaded on saidture.

. I HAROLD W. MEADE.

